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It seems everyone wants a piece of this $700 billion bailout plan. Lawmakers representing states with large numbers of auto workers urged the Bush administration Monday to use part of a bailout plan to prevent U.S. automakers from collapsing under a weak economy.

I’ve got a better solution. MAKE BETTER VEHICLES!

The big three automakers have unloaded big flashy, gas guzzlers—-called Sports Utility Vehicles—nto the American public with no regard for energy conservation. Unfortunately, many of us bought into the hype that bigger was really better.

One of every four automobiles sold in the United States is a sports utility vehicle. Every SUV purchase produces $15,000 in revenue for the vehicle‘’s maker. With high consumer demand and lucrative sales potential, the makers of SUVs have been accused of allowing safety to take the back seat when it comes to the design and production of their products.

Sports utility vehicle accident statistics show that SUVs are three times more likely to rollover in a single vehicle accident than any other car on the road. Of all vehicle accidents, rollover crashes are among the most fatal. Sports utility vehicle accident statistics comprise only three percent of the total number of accidents, yet three times that number of SUVs is involved in fatal rollover accidents. Sixty three percent of all SUV deaths and 46 percent of all SUV injuries are the result of rollover every year. (Source: Online Lawyer Resource)

Although we don’t own an SUV, the 2007 Chrysler Sebring my husband and I bought last year has been in recall at least three times. The first recall came less than three months after we purchased it. We are still dealing with a brake light malfunction that mechanics keep telling us is nothing to worry about. All I have to say about that is, there will be PLENTY for Chrysler to worry about should something happen while my grandson is riding in the car. So on second thought...they may, indeed, need some bailout money!

How do you feel about the bailout? Will it really help save our economy?

Member Comments

Since I come from Detroit I think the bailout is neccesary. Not just to Detroit but to every area that relies on the auto industry. There will be so many people without jobs including the suppliers to the big 3. I also agree with you Beverly that they created part of the problem and why should they be helped. Everytime there was a threat of stike I always thought those people don’t realize how lucky they are to have a job with benefits. So many don’t! It’s a sticky situation and there is no right answer other than something has to be done to help the economy. Of course the taxpayers current and futures will be the ones supporting the bill. When another country (canada) is offering help it must be bad.What to do?

I would like to see the displaced workers getting the bulk of the help and instead of bailing out the corporations themselves, offering them incentives to create these newer, better, more efficient cars

My husband says yes on some form of help for the automakers. I feel that, if they refused to open their eyes to what the competition was doing, they made their beds and there they shall lie. But the workers didn’t have any input in that, and they’ll be the ones who pay—again. It really is a no-win situation.

I’m from a steel town in SW OH. The town is about dried up because of the slowdown in steel production.